Assignment of the Ninja Swords

After leaving Yagura's command tent, Yoru returned to his own quarters.

As the squad leader of ANBU First Squad, Yoru held no small amount of authority, so he naturally had quarters of his own.

When he returned, several figures were already waiting inside.

The moment she saw Yoru return, Yumi hurried over in quick little steps, staring at him with a face full of concern. She touched him here and checked him there, even stretching her fair arm before his mouth several times, urging him to take a bite.

"Although that battle put me under quite a bit of pressure, I really wasn't hurt, Yumi."

Yoru helplessly pushed away the red-haired girl, who was practically stuffing her arm into his mouth, then sat down in the seat of honor.

"I'm very sorry, Lord Yoru."

Mangetsu knelt on one knee before Yoru and lowered his head.

"If it weren't for my incompetence, none of this would have happened, and you wouldn't have been placed in such danger, Lord Yoru."

Mangetsu spoke in self-reproach.

If Jiraiya and the Konoha Jonin Corps had not discovered him while he was escorting the intelligence, then Lord Yoru would not have had to cover his retreat and fall into danger.

If Lord Yoru had personally submitted the "Detailed Deployment of Konoha's Frontline Forces" to Kirigakure, Lord Yagura would certainly have attached the utmost importance to it. They would never have missed such an opportunity for merit.

Everything, everything, was because of him!

"There is no need to blame yourself, Mangetsu." Yoru shook his head. "Without you, I would not have been able to kill Nara Shikaku, known as Konoha's Brain, nor would we have achieved the victories that followed."

"Whether it was Nara Shikaku, Hizashi Hyuga, or Yamanaka Inoichi, once they appeared on Konoha's front lines, Kirigakure would have faced almost suffocating pressure... But now, although Jiraiya remains on Konoha's front lines, Konoha without its 'brain' is hardly much of a threat."

"This is all thanks to you."

"Lord Yoru..."

Mangetsu was overwhelmed with shame.

Clearly, he was the culprit behind it all, yet in Yoru's words, he had become a contributor to their success.

Lord Yoru really had always favored us...

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself. You are the Kirigakure genius I think most highly of, someone with the qualities to become Mizukage."

Yoru smiled as he walked up to Mangetsu and helped him to his feet. "How can the Hozuki Clan's brightest rising star cry like this?!"

"No, that's not it. Becoming Mizukage has never been my dream."

Mangetsu shook his head repeatedly, but said no more.

Becoming Mizukage was never my dream, and I am not worthy of becoming Mizukage. The only one who can shoulder that burden is you, Lord Yoru!

As for me, it will be enough if I can become the ninja blade that protects you, Lord Yoru!

After helping Mangetsu up and patting the boy on the shoulder, Yoru turned his gaze to the other three.

"After this mission, our ANBU First Squad will probably be disbanded soon. Don't make those faces. It isn't that I don't want to stay with you; it's because there are vacant positions to fill."

Seeing the slight panic on their faces, with Yumi and Yukiko already at a loss, Yoru quickly explained.

"The defeat of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen has left Kirigakure with many vacant high-ranking positions. Those positions need to be filled, and with war imminent, you will certainly earn enough merit to receive promotions. That is inevitable."

"After all, who told you to be so outstanding?"

"But..."

"Alright, Yurui. This is only my speculation. Everything still depends on the decisions of those above."

Cutting off Yurui before she could speak, Yoru said with a smile, "Besides that, there is something else I have for you."

As he spoke, Yoru took out the Scroll Yagura had returned to him, the one containing four ninja swords.

He poured Chakra into it, and the next moment, four ninja swords appeared within the tent.

Kabutowari!

Explosive Blade: Shibuki!

Twin Swords: Hiramekarei!

Nuibari!

Looking at the four stunned figures, Yoru smiled. "As spoils from this battle, Lord Yagura has allowed me to freely dispose of these four ninja swords. So, my partners, choose your own ninja swords and prepare to become the new Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist!"

"W-What?!"

The four present were all dumbfounded as they stared in disbelief at the four ninja swords before them.

They were to choose them and become the new Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?!

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen held an extraordinarily special meaning for Kirigakure.

These Seven Ninja Swords were far more than mere weapons. What they represented was an emblem of Kirigakure's identity!

No wonder Lord Yoru had said that they would be transferred away before long. Once they possessed the Seven Ninja Swords, the higher-ups could not possibly keep them in some small ANBU squad. There were far too many places throughout Kirigakure that needed them.

"Can we... really choose freely...?"

Mangetsu gulped, unable to hide the burning desire in his eyes.

He had never imagined that he, a "criminal" who had put Lord Yoru in danger, would still be granted a ninja blade by Lord Yoru. This, this...

Mangetsu forcefully suppressed the agitation in his heart and bowed deeply.

"Lord Yoru, based on our merits, we simply do not deserve these ninja blades. If you give them to us, I fear it may invite criticism."

"No."

Yoru shook his head.

"Mangetsu, although these ninja blades are worth a fortune and hold extraordinary significance, there is one thing I think you should understand."

"If not for me, these ninja blades would already be Konohagakure's ninja blades, not Kirigakure's. Lord Yagura personally said that these spoils of war were mine to handle as I saw fit. Whoever I want to give them to, they belong to that person."

"So there is no need to hesitate, everyone."

Yoru smiled at the four before him and pushed the four ninja blades toward them.

Since Yagura had entrusted these ninja blades to him, there was no reason for him to give them to anyone else.

What?

You were saying he needed to mind social etiquette?

He was an ANBU squad captain who had failed to awaken Hyoton, been ostracized by the Yuki Clan, and grown up alone. Why would he care about social etiquette?

Hearing Yoru's words, Hozuki Mangetsu opened his mouth, wanting to say something more, but Yurui beside him had already stepped forward and taken the blade that had once belonged to Yoru's superior, Kushimaru Kuriarare.

Nuibari!

"Too bad there's no Lightning Blade, but Nuibari isn't bad either."

At Yurui's mutter, Mangetsu's mouth twitched slightly, though his gaze continued to wander among the remaining three ninja blades.

In the end, his eyes settled on the Twin Swords: Hiramekarei, and he took them into his hands.

However, when it came to Yukiko and Yumi, the two women exchanged a glance and both shook their heads.

"I'm a support-type ninja. Keeping a ninja blade with me would simply be wasting it, so I'll pass."

"Me too. Though I really want to accept this gift brimming with Lord Yoru's love, I'm only a medical ninja and don't know how to use a sword. Taking this would be rather wasteful." Yumi shook her head, then looked at Yoru with a cheerful grin. "Besides, with Lord Yoru here, I'll definitely be protected perfectly well~!"

In the previous book, both the Sharingan and Wood Release were martial souls.